Safety release device for ski bindings



waited States Patent {72] Inventor Hannes Marker Hauptstrasse 51-53, Garmisch- Partenkirchen, Germany [2]] Appl. No. 595,699 [22 Filed Nov. 21,1966 [45] Patented Oct. 13, I970 [32] Priority Dec. 22, 1965 [33] Germany [31 l M677,154

[54] SAFETY RELEASE DEVICE FOR SKI BINDINGS 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 116/67, 81/525, 280/1135 [51] Int. Cl 6118b 3/00 [50] Field of Search 1 16/67, 1 14;280/11.35(TK), I 1.35(HA), I 1.35(TT), 11.35; 81/5215: 73(C 0nsulte d [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,411,600 11/1946 Spase 81/5215 2,449,034 9/1948 Zimmerman 81/525 Primary Examiner-Louis .1. Capozi A!l0rneyFIeit, Gipple and Jackson ABSTRACT: A safety release device for ski bindings comprised of at least two members which are relatively movable with a spring biasing the members to a normal position as commonly employed in two bindings, heel bindings, step-in bindings, and tightener bindings. The members in these types of safety release bindings are capable of movement against the spring over a limited distance until a release position is reached whereupon they open, and the skiers foot is released; this is the safety aspect of the device. An acoustic signal generator operable by the members shortly before the release position is reached is included in the ski binding for the purpose of giving an audible signal to the skier.

Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,370

Sheet I of 2 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,370

Sheet g of2 III/IIIIIIII/ l i @u 1 I SAFETY RELEASE DEVICE FOR SKI BINDINGS This invention relates to a safety release device for ski bindings, which comprises at least two members which are relatively movable against spring force from a normal position over a limited distance to the release position. Ski bindings are known in which the release moment can be adjusted and in which a scale is provided, from which the adjusted value can be read only as hard, medium or soft. To adjust the release'to the individual requirements of the skier, the safety device must be repeatedly released and the adjustment be changed until the desired setting has been obtained. Whereas these safety devices enable an adjustment of the release moment, they have the disadvantage that it is not possible to ascertain from the binding whether it is about to release In other known ski bindings, means are provided which indicate ,the distance which is still available for a displacement before a release is effected. For instance, an indicating pin may be axially displaceably mounted in a bore and may be arranged to protrude from this bore to a larger or smaller extent, depending on the stress of the tightener. The less the pin protrudes from the bore, the smaller is the spring deflection which remains to be effected for a release. In other, similar safety devices, a pointer is movable over a color scale in dependence on the spring deflection which has been effected. When this pointer moves over a red field, the release is imminent.

For an adjustment of the hardness of the release, the skier must step into the binding and must load the same until, e.g., the indicating pin disappears in the bore or the pointer moves over the red field of the scale. When the skier'desires to apply the proper load to the ski, he must assume on the ski an attitude which corresponds to theactual conditions during skiing. In this attitude it is impossible or extremely difficult for him in most cases to check the visual indicating device, particularly when the same is provided on a heel release.

For this reason it is an object of the invention to provide for ski bindings a safety release device which enables the skier to adjust without difficulties the release hardness which is agreeable to him, without need to rely on a scale or the like and without need to check a difficultly visible indicating device while loading the binding parts, or to repeatedly load the binding until a release is effected.

In a safety release device of the kind described hereinbefore, this objectis accomplished in that an acoustic signal generator is provided; which is operated shortly before the release position is reached. Where such a device is used the skier can step into the binding and load the same to such an extent that the audible signal is heard. When the release hardness has not reached the desired value or exceeds the same, the release hardness can be adjusted and it is not necessary for the skier to load the binding sufficiently for an actual release, or to step out of the binding. Hence, the essential advantage of the design of a safety release device according to the invention resides in that the adjusting operation can be carried out in a much more expeditious and simplified manner and that the safety effect is improved because the forces which act on the safety binding during the setting thereof can be applied to the binding while the skier is in a position which simulates the actual conditions.

In a development of the invention, two or more signal generators for generating sounds of different pitch may be spaced along the release path. For instance, a signal may be sounded when the spring has been .deflected to an extent which corresponds to the spring deflection occurring during normal use of the binding, without effecting a release, whereas a second signal is sounded immediately before a release.

It will be particularly suitable and simple if one of the two relatively movable parts of the safety release device is provided with a sound-generating'tongue and the other of said parts is provided with a pin'for actuating this tongue. Other The invention will be explained more in detail in the following description with reference to embodiments shown by way ofexample in the drawing, in which:

FIG. I is a front elevation showing an acoustic generator which is used according to the invention,

FIG. 2 a top plan view associated with FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a front elevation showing a known safety toe iron provided with an acoustic signal generator,

FIG. 4 a top plan view associated with FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a known safety tightener provided with the signal generator according to the invention,

FIG. 6 a front elevation showing a known automatic heel release device provided with a signal generator,

FIG. 7 the release device of FIG. 6 in a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 a longitudinal sectional view showing a known socalled step-in-binding, which is also provided with an acoustic signal generator.

In the embodiment shown by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 2, an acoustic signal generator comprises a sound-emitting tongue 1, which consists of spring plate and is secured to one part of the binding, and an actuating pin 2, which is secured to the binding part which is movable against the sound-emitting tongue I relative to the part which carries the sound-emitting tongue 1. The sound-emitting tongue 1 is thus deflected and can slip off the pin 2 as the latter continues its movement in the opening direction. The sound-emitting tongue can then spring back to generate an audible signal. This audible signal is required to be heard only during the adjustment of the binding rather than during the ordinary use of the binding. For this reason a relatively low intensity of the signal is sufficient.

The safety toe iron which is shown in FIG. 3 is of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,027,173 and is secured to the ski 4 by baseplate 5 and pivoted on the axis 3. Two actuating pins 2 for the acoustic signal generator are secured to pivoted member 6 of the toe iron, one of said pins becoming effective, depending on the direction of the pivotal movement. The baseplate 5 carsignal ries a sound-emitting tongue 1. The pins 2 define a range for the pivotal movement of the member 6. When one of the limits of this range is exceeded, the metal bar 1 will slip off that pin 2 which is the trailing pin in the direction of the pivotal movement and will then generatethe signal. When the return spring acting on the toe iron 6 returns the same to its normal position, the pin 2 will slide in the opposite direction over the sound-emitting tongue 1 so that the same repeats the generation of a signal. This signal is not insignificant for the adjustment of the binding.

FIG. 5 shows a known fore tightener of the type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,151,874 which is provided with an acoustic signal generator. The known fore tightener essentially operates by strap 15 of base plate 14 coacting with member 16 which, in turn, is loaded by the spring 12. The force of spring 12 tends to rotate member 16. This rotation is opposed by holding-down member 17, which is secured to tightener lever 18. The pivot 7 of the tightener lever 18 is secured to a slide 8, which is pulled forwardly by a spring 12 and a pin 9. When an abnormally strong tensile force acts by the cable on tensile element 10, the tightener cover 11 will be moved rearwardly together with the pivot 7, the tightener lever and the slide 8. During this movement, the holding-down member 17 slides over the pivoted member 16 until it passes the edge 19 of the pivoted member. The spring-loaded member 16 can now turn upwardly so that it forces the tightener lever 18 in an upward direction acting through stop 13. According to the invention, the known fore tightener is modified by the tightener lever 18 carrying a sound-emitting tongue 1, which is bent upwardly by the pivoted member in the normal position of the tightener. Shortly before the action of an abnormally strong force on the tensile element 10 causing a release of the tightener, the sound-emitting tongue 1 moves over the pivoted member 16 until the tongue slides over the edge 19, whereafter the tongue springs back to its normal position and starts to vibrate.

Another embodiment, in which the acoustic signal generator is used; is a known heel release device of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,403,920. This is shown in F165. 6 and 7. As known in the art, the illustrated heel release device isconnected to the skiby means of cables 20, which are connected to springs 21. A roller 22 bears on the heel groove of the boot. A bail member 23 is connected to the ends of the two springs 21. A slide 24 is secured to the bail member 23 and has an oblique edge 25, which runs up on the stop pin 2 of the springloaded locking member 35 so as to open the lock under the action of excessively high tensile forces. The intermediate part 26 is then free for an outwardly directedpivotal movement to release the foot. As modified by the present invention, the pin 2 has an edge 27 formed by a 90 cutout. During a displacement of the locking member in the opening direction, this edge 27 bears on the sound-emitting tongue 1, which is secured to the intermediate part 26. This engagement by the edge 27 causes the tongue 1 to be deflected. After a further displacement of the pin 2, the sound-emitting tongue 1 can spring back so that the acoustic signal is generated.

FIG. 8 shows a known step-in binding of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,125,349 which serves for holding down the heel end. The binding consists of member 28 suspended in a four-bar linkage and carrying a holding-down member and a roller 29, which engages the underside of a cam portion 30 of aspring-loaded lever 31, which, in turn, is rotatably mounted on pivot 32. The operation of this known binding is generally that when the boot is lifted from the ski, the spring-loaded lever 31 is pivoted against the action of the spring 34 until theroller 29 has disengaged the cam 30 and the binding cam now spring open. As modified by the invention, the spring-loaded lever 31 carries a pin 2 so that during a pivotal movement of the spring-loaded lever, the pin 2 deflects a sound-emitting tongue 1 fixed to the base of the binding and releases it after a further pivotal movement; The tongue 1 then springs back to generate the audible signal.

1 claim:

1. In a safety release device for ski bindings including first and second members which are relatively movable and a spring biasing said members to a normal position, with said members being capable of movement against said spring over limited distance to a release position, the improvement comprising an acoustic generator which comprises a soundemitting tongue located on one of said members and a constraining means located on the other of said members which places said tongue under tension and permits said tongue to be released, causing sound vibration as the relative movement between said members proceeds to arelease position.

2. In a device, according to claim 1, the further improvement comprising a plurality of said signal generators for generating sounds of different pitch spaced along the path of movement of said members short of said release position.

3. In a device. according to claim 1, wherein said constraining means is a pin.

4. In a device, according to claim 1, wherein said constraining means is an edge ofa pivoted member. 

